Lithuania’s Foreign Minister: Will work to reduce economic dependence on China during EU’s rotating presidency

(Central News Agency reporter You Yaoju, Vilnius, 6th) Lithuania will serve as the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union next year. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Budris said that during the rotation, Lithuania will work hard to persuade EU countries to reduce their economic dependence on China.

Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported that Kestutis Budrys pointed out during a meeting with the opposition conservative group in parliament on the 4th that the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has actively dealt with economic security issues related to China, including import dependence and export risks of some companies.

Budrys said that the current direction of the EU is not full decoupling, but closer to de-risking, that is, reducing dependence through risk management.

According to reports, Budris emphasized that Lithuania has a tougher and security-oriented position on this issue. "Our goal, and the work we will promote during the rotating presidency, is to win the support of the entire EU for our position on EU trade policy and economic security policy."

Budris pointed out that the trade imbalance between Lithuania and China is serious. He said that the ratio of Lithuania's exports to imports to China last year was about 1:8, showing that imports were much higher than exports, but he also mentioned that the gap in some other countries was even wider.

Bilateral relations between Lithuania and China deteriorated in 2021, when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to set up a local representative office in the name of Taiwan. China subsequently lowered the level of diplomatic relations with Lithuania and adopted trade restrictions against it.

LRT reported that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda previously stated that Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius expected Budris to improve relations with China before taking over the EU Council presidency. According to reports, Boudris himself expressed cautious optimism about this.

Lithuania is expected to take over the rotating presidency of the EU Council from Ireland in the first half of 2027, and then hand it over to Greece. Lithuania first held this position in 2013.